Rail tie plate



1.1. HESS AND N. JOHNSON.

RAIL TIE PLATE. I

APPLICATION man MAY4, |922.

1,428,378. Patentedsept. 5,1922.

. nrw.,

. :FuE- E Snom/woz Patented sept. 5,v i922.

it ifi maar ortie JOHN J. HESS, OF SEATTLE, AND NELS JOHNSON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

RAIL TIE PLATE.

Application led May 4,

To all whom it may con/cem.'

Be it known that we,JoHN J. l-lnss and NnLs JOHNSON, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Seattle and Spokane, in the counties of King and Spokane, respectively,.and State of Vashington, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Rail Tie Plates; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved tie plate having anti-creeping or rail locking means associated therewith.

The principal object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by producing one which is practical, strong and durable, inexpensive to both the manufacturer and the user, effective in use and such that the locking action can be varied from time to time to compensate the wear of the parts of the device.

More specifically, it is another object of the invention to devise a tie plate and rail lock embodying a conventional type of plate on which a locking lever is pivoted, this lcver having its inner end disposed to engage the adjacent edge of the base flange of the rail, and there being means cooperative with the outer or free end of the lever to hold it in the various locking positions to which it has been moved.

It is a feature of the invention to design the locking lever so that it can be moved in either of two directions to prevent creeping of the rail in either of these directions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is top plan view of av tie-plate and rail lock constructed in accordance .with this invention, the same being shown in use.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view partly in section.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the locking lever.

ings show a rail R extending transversely across a tie T.

1922. Serial No. 558,352.

The invention resides in the employment of a suitably designed tie-plate lhafing a rib extending across its upper face adjacent one. end and formed with a plurality of openings to y accommodate the fastening spikes 3. On the opposite side of the rail, the plate is also formed with a screw threaded hole 4 into which the lower end of a shouldered pivot bolt 5 extends. rllhis bolt 5 serves as a fulcrum for a locking lever 6 formed at its inner end with a cam head 7 to engage the adjacent edge of the base flange of the rail. At its outer or free end, the lever is formed with an opening 8 through which the shank of another spike 9 is designed to pass. It is to be noted that this opening is somewhat larger than the spike to permit limited movement of the outer end of the lever after the spike has been driven.

From the foregoing description it is ob# vious that if the device is properly proportioned to acommodate a certain width of rail base, the cam head of the locking lever will be in locking engagement with base flange of the rail when the lever is disposed at a substantially right angular position such as shown in dotted lines in Figure l.v As however the grip ofthe cam on Vthe rail is not sufficient when the lever is in this position, it must be swung on its pivot `to one side orthe other as indicated by full lines to obtain the proper locking action. It is of course necessary for the lever to be in this position before the retaining spike 9 is'driven into the tie. vEven after the spike is in place, there is still a slight movement of the lever permitted. Hence in case the rail tends to creep in the direction of the arrow a more effective locking grip will be automatically obtained. ln Figure l of the drawings we have shown the clearance of the bolt opening at the outer end of the lever in its final posi@ tion. That is,'it is to be assumed that the spike has been driven and that the clearance was previously on the opposite side thereof and that the rail has moved longitudinally in the direction of the arrow to bind the edge of the opening tightly against the shank of y New become worn to an extent to permit slippage of the rail, this can be taken care oit by pulling the spike 9 and moving the lever over further toward the rail and replacing the spille to maintain it in this new position.

By carefully considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons t'aniiliar with devices of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Z'Cheretorej a more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Since probably the best results niay be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, we wish it to be understood that minor changes coining within the scope of the invention as Claimed may be resorted to if desired.

spike or the like to maintain the lever in varions set positions.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

Jenn J. nnss. Nets JonNsoN, 

